Word for the Week

Serious Fishing

Week beginning: 22nd October, 2017 | By Gerard Chrispin | Farnham

"...if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!"

1 Corinthians 9:16 (NKJV)

I share this thought as two days of my holiday remain. Each morning before breakfast, Sunday excluded, I have swum across the beautiful bay just 3 minutes' walk from my hotel. The Menorcan sea is warm in October. I have repeated this swim later in the day, as I did on Friday. I find it helpful to pray and sing some hymns to myself and the many fishes in the bay!

Imagine my sadness to learn that an hour before my Friday afternoon swim a holidaymaker, twenty-one years my junior, had a heart attack in that same bay, drowned and died. As a recent recipient of a pacemaker that sad news came to me with added meaning.

Although failing too often I seek to speak to at least one person each day about the Lord Jesus Christ. Low- cost package holidays provide 'fish' in this sea of opportunity. Many people are willing to engage happily in conversation and often to then discuss the gospel.

Friday's tragedy reminded me that each day of my life is the last day of life for someone else. Maybe the person I meet every day perhaps in the office or at court or at lunchtime, or on the train, or at the bus stop, or when filling up the car, or at home – the list could go on – has much less time to live than he or she thinks. And maybe I have much less time left to share wisely with others that Christ has died for our sins, risen again, and will forgive and bless eternally anyone who will turn from sin and trust Him.

Questions to consider:1. Every person is either a missionary or a mission field. Which are you?2. How many times in the last week have you shared an appropriate word with someone about Jesus?

Prayer point:

1. Pray now for boldness to speak of and share the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ to someone you meet this week.